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Brian Watson

People Create Print : Nadav Dar, Digital Pre-Press Junior

By Latest News

Nadav Dar is studying Graphic Design at college and working part-time as our Digital Pre-Press Junior.
 Read her Q&A’s here.

What are you studying at college?
I am studying a HND in Graphic Design at City of Glasgow College.

Do you plan to do a further qualification after HND?
Yes, I plan to study the Design Ba(hons) course.

Have you always been interested in design?
I originally wanted to do illustration, but the Graphic Design course looked more appealing, and I thought that I could develop a wider range of skills.

What area of design do you enjoy best?
I love experimenting with different media, I especially took a liking for screen-printing. I also enjoy working with typography, having done several type based projects I tend to lean towards creating interesting designs that are fun to look at.

How does your course compare to what you are learning at J Thomson?
Very different, studying covers different aspects of all that is available in graphic design but only scratches the surface at what is done in print. Print is a very new and exciting aspect of the design industry.

What are you hoping to learn from your time in Digital Pre-Press?
I want to expand my knowledge of the company and what it provides, learn new skills both digitally and practically and find an area within print that I excel at or just enjoy.

April 27, 2023
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Ariundle Shortbread Packaging

By Latest News

Last month we were delighted to design and produce this outer packaging for Ariundle shortbread.

It gave us the opportunity to showcase the quality of our design service, the Indigo digital presses and the flexibility of our new VeloBlade digital die-cutter, demonstrating that packaging is now accessible to all.

April 7, 2023
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Racing Competition T&C’s

By Latest News

To be in with a chance to win the tickets: simply follow/like our social media page, like the competition post and share the post. The winner will be chosen at random from our “followers” on Wednesday 5th April 2023 this means if you have not followed the page, we can not contact you if your name is chosen. The tickets are for Saturday 22nd April only, the tickets will be tracked and can not be sold/replaced or exchanged for money. For information about race times, gates opening, please log on to www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

March 16, 2023
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People Create Print : Apprentice Billy Coulston

By Latest News

We round  off Scottish Apprenticeship Week with Billy Coulston or “Wee Billy” as he is nicknamed. Billy recently started an apprenticeship in Print Finishing.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve
?
To do what I am told, finish jobs as soon as possible and help others when I can
.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?
I’d been working here for a year and really enjoyed working with paper and books. I was going to ask my manager about an apprenticeship and when I did, he said “that’s weird I was going to ask you if you wanted to start one”.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?
I hadn’t thought about print at all, but I had considered landscape gardening.

4. What is the best part of your job?
The people that I work with.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In J Thomson Colour Printers as a machine operator!

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?
Yes, I worked in the Digital department where my Uncle Jeff works.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeshp is complete/when is it complete?
I will qualify in Print Finishing and become a machine operator for the binder, hopefully as soon as I can.

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?
I liked when we printed the Paddington books because I used to watch that movie all the time when I was young, it was very nostalgic.

9. Would you recommend apprenticeshps, why?
Yes, I would recommend apprenticeships because it can give you lots of opportunities and life skills as well as a good career.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?
“Wake. Print. Sleep. Repeat”

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?
I mostly spend time going out with my girlfriend and my friends.

March 10, 2023
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People Create Print : Apprentice Billy Murdoch

By Latest News

As part of with Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2023 we wanted to highlight one of our newest employees. Billy Murdoch or “Big Billy” as he is nicknamed, has recently started a SCQF Level 6 – Soft Binding apprenticeship in our Finishing Department.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve
?
I mostly help on the stitcher which I am learning as well as one of the other machines.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?
I had been working here for a couple of months when it got mentioned to me, it was a chance to make more money and learn more skills.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?
I never really had a set plan of what I wanted to do, always taken a chance with things.

4. What is the best part of your job?
The people that work here are all good people and the days go in fast.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I honestly don’t know, hopefully rich!

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?
No, always within the bindery.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeshp is complete/when is it complete?
SCQF Level 6 – Soft Binding!

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?
Wouldn’t say I have a favourite, as long as the job runs smoothly that’s good enough.

9. Would you recommend apprenticeshps, why?
Yes, it is a chance to further your skillset.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?
Billys Book

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?
Going to the football or the pub. That’s it really.

March 9, 2023
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Scottish Apprenticeship Week Day 3: Anas Sarwar, MSP, visit.

By Latest News, Uncategorized

On Monday, as part of Scottish Apprentice Week 2023, we had the pleasure of welcoming Anas Sarwar, MSP and leader of the Scottish Labour Party to J. Thomson’s Glasgow printing facility.

Five of our six apprentices were on site and Anas took the time to meet and chat to all of them enthusiastically about themselves and their jobs and what it means to them to be part of the modern apprenticeship scheme. It meant a great deal to them that someone in such a position would take the time and effort to care about them as individuals and support their training needs and that of Scottish industry in general.

Anas and his colleagues were accompanied by John Robertson (Skills Development Scotland), Garry Richmond (Print Scotland) and Jim McKenzie (Ultimate Learning Solutions).

All at J Thomson and specifically the apprentices – Becky Young, Billy Coulston, Billy Murdoch, Aiden Lewis, Kyle Clark and Hazel Linden – would like to thank all who attended for their participation.

#jtcp #colourprinters #ScottAppWeek23 #UnlockingPotential #Apprentice #apprenticeship #learn #train #skills

March 8, 2023
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Tree planting initiative with Clyde Climate Forest

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As a company, we are on a continual journey of sustainability. We are always focusing on new ways to show our commitment to the environment, so on Saturday the 25th of February we partnered with Clyde Climate Forest to help plant 500 trees in Dunterlie Park, Barrhead. We were represented by Marie, Nicole, Brian and Scott who joined local school children and volunteers to plant a mix of tree species including Downy Birch, Rowan, Alder, Oak, Hazel and Scots Pine. The hope is once grown, these trees will have a positive impact on the urban environment by providing a cooling effect in heatwaves, surface water management, while providing carbon storage and wildlife habitats. Clyde Climate Forest’s ambition is to increase trees across Glasgow by 20%, The project was developed with East Renfrewshire Council, Trees for Cities, TCV, and Green Action Trust and supported by the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund and Scottish Forestry.

Our aim is to plant again towards the end of the year in our efforts to give something back!

Group image courtesy of Clyde Climate Forest.

March 3, 2023
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People Create Print : Apprentice Kyle Clark

By Latest News

We wanted to end Apprenticeship Week 2023 by highlighting one of our award winning apprentices. We caught up with Kyle Clark who is in his 4th year of a SVQ in Sheet Fed Printing. Last year Kyle won Print Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year along with fellow colleague Hazel Linden.

1. What does your typical day/responsibilities involve?


I am responsible for producing high quality printed work on our LED UV 6 colour B1 press. This involves making sure the job materials are selected accurately by my assistant before loading the job into the press. I also need to look over my work ticket to make sure that everything is tying up correctly before I can go ahead and start to make ready and print the job.

2. What made you interested in the Apprenticeship at J Thomson’s?


My neighbour had asked if I was looking for something different to what I was doing and this sounded a lot better.

3. Did you always want to work in print, if not what else did you consider?


No, I never knew anything about the print trade before I got into it.

4. What is the best part of your job?


I like the variety of jobs I can produce during a shift and how things are always changing.

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?


Hopefully still in the trade and hopefully progressing further.

6. Are there any other areas in J Thomson that you have worked?


Yes in the Plate Making Room and Bindery.

7. What qualification will you gain when apprenticeship is completed?

A SVQ in Sheet Fed Printing.

8. What is the most exciting project you have printed so far?


University of St Andrews undergraduate prospectus

9. Would you recommend apprenticeships, why?

Yes it is a great way to learn and make money at the same time.

10. You get the chance to print your own autobiography, what is the title?


Tales of the Apprentice.

11. When you are not in work, what do you like doing in spare time?


Travel around Scotland to find new destinations to ride my mountain bike.

February 10, 2023
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Six Nations 2023 Exclusive Poster

By Latest News

Keep track of the six nations with our exclusive poster.
Click the button to download.

Download Now

February 3, 2023
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